Feeding mechanism.



F. WEGNER.

PEEDING MECHANISM. APPLIUATXN FILED 0011.30, 1907. RBHEWED JUNI: 6, 1910,

. vmmm@ July 19, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Wi h1 eamo ED JUNE 6, 1910.

Patente@ July 19, M10.

8 SEEE TSE-SHEET Z.

14 .1 v .l Av my. l. f miv Y r 7 i P. WEGNER FBEDING MEOHANISM.

APPLIoATIoH FILED 00T. so, 1907. 'nmmwsn mm: e, 1s

r sfr fri one.

FRED WEGNER, OF FAIRPORT, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO SANITARY CAN COMPANY, OF FAIRPORT, NEW-YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

FEEDING D/[ECHANISM.

Application filed October 30, 1907, Serial No.

To all whom it 'may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED lVnGNnR, of Fairportyin the county oi' Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Feeding Mechanisms; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the referencenumerals marked thereon.

The present invention relates to feeding mechanism ot the type in which articles are arranged ina hopper and are singly .discharged therefrom, being herein shown as' adapted for articles made from sheet metal, such as can heads or tops; and it has for an object to provide an apparatus which will effectively separate the'articles from a column or pack and deliver them singly and 4in an orderly manner.

A further object is to provide a machine which can be adjusted to feed articles of any thickness within two limits.

To these and other ends the invention consists in .certain improvements and combinations of parts all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings, wherein l have shown one embodiment of my invention: Figure 1 represents a plan view. Fig; 2 represents a detail view looking from above and showing the operating means for and the separating devices. Figs. 3, 4 and 5 represent sections on lines o o, Zie-Z) and 0 0 respectively. Fig. 6 represents a bottom view; and Fig. 7 represents a side view, parts being shown in section. v

The embodiment of the invention herein shown comprises a suitable hopper consisting preferably of an annular base. and a series of uprights 2 projecting upwardly from the base the base being formed of t'wo ring sections la and 1b, secured together by bolts. The articles (can tops in he present instance) arranged one upon other and stamped, usual, with a central boss so that their edges will beA spaced las shown in Fig. 4, are sustained within the hopper by suitable sujfiporting devices. ing devices are preferably in the forni ol the 'supporting slides or lingers movable radially of the Specification of Letters latent.

399,952. Renewed .Tune 6, 1910. Serial No. 565,382.

,wardly separating devices. `of the arm is effected by r[he support-l' Patented July 19, 1910.

hopper and operated by a suitable means as a cam member in the form otl a ring 5 having ,a plurality of cams (3 which cooperate with rollers 7 on thel slides to etiect the projection and withdrawal of the fingers or slides.

Arranged above the supporting devices are the separating devices which separate the lowermost article from the pack and support the remainder while the supporting devices are moved to discharge the separated article. rihe separating devices are pret'- erably in the form of slides or fingers 8, beveled at their inner ends 9 and movable.

into the path of the articles in the hopper, being pressed inwardly by springs 10 which are arranged on the exterior of the base frame and engage the outer ends of the slides so that the latter may yield independently of one another, as when one engages theI edge of a top, instead of entering the space between two tops. In order to move them simultaneously away from the tops, l provide a suitable mechanismrin the form. or' a cam member or ring 11, having cams 12 engaging rollers 13 projecting upffom the slides or fingers, the openings 12a forming 'the cams being enlarged to permit the slides to yield independently of each other. A connection between the cam members preferably in lthe form of pins 14 serves to eti'ect their simultaneously movement.

Owing to the fact that some tops are made of metal of a different thickness, it is desirable to adjust the supporting and the separating devices relatively to each other. In the present instance, the supporting devices are adjustable toward the separating devices and for this purpose an arm 15 projects upfrom an offset portion 16 on the lower end of a rod 17 which extends entirely through the base. This arm 15 bears against the under side of aslide 4 near the inner end` of the latter, so that when the arm is moved Avertically thev effective supporting end of a slide is adjustable relatively to the The vertical adjustment a nut 18'which engages threads on the upperend of the rod 17 and bears on the top of the hopperbase, a spring 19 being arranged in pocket 1u the-under surface of the base andbearing on the otsetportion 1G to tendaormallylto I hold the arm depressed.. In-dicating means such as a scale on the upper surface of the nut and an index or pointer 21 on the base, serve to determine the adjust- `rolling they are deposited on two spaced supports 22 which are preferably carried by andarranged longitudinally of a reciprocating feeder or slide 23 guided on a suitable frame 24 between tracks 25 on'lthe latter.

The hopper also may be'supported on a frame 24 by cross pieces 24a. After a can top is deposited on the slide, the latter moves from beneath the hopper and a device in the formof a curved stop 26, depending from the base of the hopper, engages a can top and causes it to slide oif the supports onto the frame 24; in advance of the slide, so that on its forward movement, the forward end of the slide will engage the top to'feed it from beneath the hopper to any suitable point. Preferably the forward end of the slide has a recess of V shape to receive the tops and the forward ends of the supports are undercut so that over-hanging projections 27 are formed to prevent the rolling of the tops when they drop from the supports to the frame 24.

In order to effect the operation of the supporting and the separating devices or, fingers from the slide, the latter carries an adjust- 'able stop 28 which is adapted to coperate with the free end of the lever 29 pivoted intermediately of its ends on a pivot pin 30 that depends from a cross piece 24a, and conliected at its other end by a link 3l with a pin 32, which is rigidly secured tocam member 11 and works in a slot 33 in the base section l. `lVhen the lever 29 is engaged by stop 2S the cam rings 5 and ll are simultaneously rotated to effect the withdrawal of the supporting fingers and permit the projection of the separating fingers, and on the movement of the .slide 23 in the other direction the heli` cal spring 32a, which is connected to the pin 32, and one of the cross pieces 24a moves the cam ringsto project the supporting iingers andwithdraw the separating fingers. An adjustable stop 34 on the under surface of ring l", serves to engage link 31 'of the cam operating mechanism in order. to vary the movement of the supporting and the scparating devices in one direction, while the adjustment of the stop 28 changes the lengths of their movements in the other direction.

The tops are carried by a reciprocatory feeding device between two parallel guides 35 and 36 which .form extensions of the curved stop 2G, guide 35 being shorter than the guide 3G ill-order that th(l can tops mayl be removed laterally by a suitable carri-er 37 which travels beneath the guides and to which the can tops are carried by a slide. The tops may be removed from the carrier in any suitable manner. A

In operation the hopper is filled With a number of superimposed tops which owing to their form are spaced from each other at their edges. These tops normally rest upon the'lower or supporting slides or fingers 4, and upon the feeding movement of the reciprocatory slide 23 the latter effects the withdrawal ofthe supporting slides, and the projection of the separating fingers 8 which pass between the lower top and the one next above it, the lower one then dropping onto the spaced supports 22 which prevent the rolling ofthe tops. The slide 23 now moves to the rear and the top thereon is removed by the stop 26 and deposited in front of the slide, the supporting fingers being at the same time projected and the separating fingers being Withdrawn. As the top drops, the rolling is prevented by the projections 27, and upon another forward movement of the slide 23 the top is carried between the guides 35 and 3G to a suitable carrier.

A feeder constructed in accordance with this invention'is inexpensive to manufacture and simple in operation, land it effectively separates can tops of the type in which one fits within the other and binds, without injury to' said tops.

I cla'im as my invention:

l. The combination with a hopper, of supporting devices for sustaining articles within the hopper, movable to permit the discharge of' the articles, and yieldingly mounted separating devicesy movable tol separate one of the articles in the hopper and to support` the remainder-while the supporting devices' have been moved to discharge the separated article.

2. The combination with a hopper, of a plurality of fingers for sustaining articles in the hopper movable to permit the discharge of the ai-ticles, and yieldingly mounted separating devices movable to separate one of the articles' in the hopper and to support the remainder While the supporting devices have been-moved to discharge the separated article.

3. rl`hc combination With a hopper,'of a plurality offinger's for sustaining articles in the hopper, movable to pe-rnlitvthe dis! charge of the articles, and a plurality of yieldingly mounted separating fingers arranged above the supporting 'fingers and movable to sepa-rate one of the articles in the hopper and to support theA remainder while the .supporting fingers have been moved to, discharge the separated article.

4. The combination with a hopper, of a plurality of movable supportingiingers for sustaining articles Within the hopper, movvable to permit the discharge of the articles, a rotary cam member cooperating with said scarsi porting fingers and movable to separate one of the articles and to support the remainder while the supporting fingers have been moved to discharge the separated article and a ro'tary cam member cooperating with` the separating fingers to move the latter.

5. The combination with a hopper, of a plurality of supporting lingers each having a projection thereon, a cam member copcrating with the projections for moving the supporting fingers, a plurality ot separating lingers each having a projection thereon, a cam member cooperating with these projections for moving the separating lingers, and connection between j said cam members for effecting their simultaneous movement.

rl`he combination with a hopper, of a pair ot' connected cam members, a plurality ot fingers for supporting articles Within the hopper, operated by one cam member, and a plurality ot yieldingly mounted separating fingers arranged above the supporting lingers and operated by the other cam niember when the supporting lingers are operated.

7. 'l`lie'combinatioi'i with a hopper, of a pair ot connected rotary cam members, a plurality ot' radially movable lingers operated by one oi said rotary cam members and arranged to support articles Within the hopper, and a plurality of radially movable separating lingers arranged above the supporting lingers and 'operated by the other rotary cam member.

S. T he combination With a hopper, ot'a pair of connected ring shaped members, having cams thereon and mounted to rotate, a plurality of radially movable tingers operated -by the cams on one offsaid rings and arranged to support articles in said hopper, and a plurality-ot' radially movable separating fingers arranged above the supporting lingers and operated by the cams on the other ring.V

9. The combination with a hopper, of a pair of connected ring shaped members hav- .ing cams thereon and mounted to rotate, a

plurality of radially movable fingers operated by the cams on one of said rings and arranged to support articles in said hopper, and a plurality of radially movable separating lingers vieldingly arranged above the supporting lingers and operated by the cams on the other ring.

l0. The combination With a hopper, oit a plurality of lingers t'or supporting articles in the hopper radially movable to et'fect vthe discharge oli' the articles, a, rotary cani ring having cams for moving the fingers into and out ot' supporting positions, a plurality ot separating fingers lor separating one article and supporting the remainder while the separated article is discharged, a rotary cam ring having cams thereon tor moving the lingers from the articles, and springs tor moving the separating lingers toward the i articles.

ll. The combination with a hopper and supporting devices for holding the articles within the hopper, movable to discharge the articles, of separating devices for separating one article and supporting the remainder, and mechanism for moving the sepi-irating devices, permitting them to yield independently ot each other.

l2. The con'ibination with a hopper and supjiorting devices Jorholdingf the articles within the hopper,movable to discharge the articles, oi' separating devices for separating one article and supporting the remainder, the supporting and the separating devices being relatively adjustable to 'l'eed articles ot dili'eient thickness.

lll. 'l`he combination with a hopper and supporting devices tor holding the articles within the. hopper, movable to discharge the articles, ot separating devices for separating one article and supporting the-remaindcr, and means t'or adjusting the supporting and the separating devices relatively to each other to feed articles of dilierent thickness.

l-l. rl`lie combination with a hopper, of a plurality of radially arranged slides for sustaining articles in the hopper, a cam eoojiei'ating with the slides for operating them, a plurality of separating devices arranged above the slides,'and means cooperating with the slides near their inner ends to adjust them relatively to the separating devices.

l5. The combination with a hopper and supporting devices torliolding the articles within the hopper, movable to discharge the articles, of separating devices for separating one article and supporting the remainder, means i'or adjustiiig the supporting and the separating devices relatively' to each other to feed articles of ditlierent thickness, and means for indicating the adjustment.

1G. rlhe combination with a suitable hopper having a base, of a plurality of articles supporting slides radially movable in the base, a plurality of. separating slides radially movable in the base, and means 'for adjusting a supporting slide relatively to a separating slide comprising a rod extending through the base` an upwardly extending arm offset from the rod and engaging a supporting slide, a spring for moving the arm in one direction, and a nut engaging the rod and the base.

17. The combination with a suitable hopper,

18. The combination with a hopper, of supporting devices foi` articles' in the hopper, a rotary cam for moving said devices to discharge the articles, a feedin device for moving the discharged artic es and mechanism controlled 'by the feeding device for controlling the operation of the cam of the supporting devices.

19. The combination with a hopper, of supporting devices for articles in the hopper, a rotary cana for moving said devices to' discharge the articles,a feeding slide receiving the discharged articles, mechanism for controlling the movement of the' cam for operating the supporting devices, operated by th'e slide, and a device for removing articles from the slide and depositing it in advance of the slide.

20;' The combination with a hopper, of supporting devices for articles in the hopper, movable to discharge the articles, a feeding slide receiving the discharged articles, a pair-of spaced supports carried by the slide to receive articles from the hopper, a stop for removing articles from the supports and depositing them in advance of the slide, and mechanism controlled by the slide for operating the supporting devices.

21. The combination with a hopper, of a feeding slide arranged beneath the hopper to` receive the articles discharged therefrom,

,and having its forward end recessed andl provided with an overhanging projection,

spaced supports carried by the slide, and a device for removing the articles from theV supports and depositing themin advance of the recessed endof the said slide.

23. The combination with a hopper, of a plurality of lingers for supporting articles in the hopper and radially movable to the discharge of the articles, a rotary cam rin havin cams for moving the fingers into and. out o supporting positions, a plurality of separating fingers for separating one `article and supporting the remainder While the separated article is discharged, a rotary cam ring having cams thereon for moving the lingers from the articles, springs for mov-L ing the separatin fingers toward the articles, a slide mova le beneath the hopper, a lever operated bythe slide, and a link con-- necting the lever and one of the cam rings.

. p FRED v WEGNER. Witnesses: i

G. 'I-I. KELmGG, J. S. CARMER. 

